Argh, But All Right

This is not a muppets post. I'm not even sure what this is since I don't think Michigan's had a team like this most recent edition of basketball since the blog's existed, and probably not since the 1997 football team went from "M stands for mediocre" to a national championship.

Expectations this year were on the floor, like "I hope they win ten games" on the floor, and they end it watching a runner to tie the defending national champions clang off the back rim. They swept Michigan State for the first time since 1997, breached Tennessee's reactor core, reached the second round of the NCAA tournament, and didn't bother to have a senior day. A friend kept saying he just wanted to keep seeing them play basketball, and that's about right, and when's the last time you could say that about Michigan anything?

The team is hereby awarded the above image of slightly silly looking Vikings charging headlong to glory. Denouement Monday.

Hopefully he can start to out-recruit in addition to out-coach. Been pulling in some great hidden gems (Morgan, Hardaway). Let's build on this and start beating MSU on the recruiting trail. Landing Amir Williams would've put us over the top in terms of a legit national power.

I wanted Amir Williams but he is overated and doesn't really fit in with Belien's offense since he has zero outside shooting ability. I think we will get a very good recruiting class in 2012, especially if we finish up next year on a high note, which I fully expect.

Incontrovertible proof would've been if Darius had kicked it out to Zach behind the arc and have him drain it for the win. At least that's how it played out in my imagination. Sad it's over for this season, but man, was that ever fun.

...this team was something special. Character and heart. I hope they can find this space again next year. I just about walked away when Duke hit the three to go up 13 but for the last 6 weeks this team has been great in the last 10 minutes. They proved it again today.

Adams Axiom: The major difference between something that might go wrong and something that can not possibly go wrong is that when a thing that can not possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair.

where in that clip were there any comments by Coach K? All I saw and heard was some dipshit announcer calling Smotrycz "Smatrich" and Morris "Moore". Did the link change? I'd love to hear what K has to say but this link doesn't have it.

You all might know this story: After Laettner tore the heart out of anoutmanned Kentucky team in the classic 92 regional final in Philly, Coach K made it a priority to console the Kentucky players. But it got better. Immediately thereafter he asked Kentucky's radio broadcaster if he could have a microphone to address the Kentucky fans directly. He took the microphone and gushed about the tremendous heart and effort of their team and how proud they should be. Told them they deserved victory that night.

Radio was still kind of a big deal back then and Kentucky is loaded with very rural areas where seeing the game was no absolute given. There are many fan bases who view Coach K as some sort of Darth Vader like figure. Kentucky's fan base loves him. I think that interview after today's game gave us all a little flavor of that level of class that he has always exhibited.

“First, understanding what their intent is, what our team’s intent is going to be. You’ve got to be willing to work for that. You’ve got to be willing to earn that..." 12-30-2014

I couldn't agree more, I JUST WANT TO KEEP SEEING THEM PLAY!!! The beauty is, we get another year with the ENTIRE team! Thank you coaches and players for giving the Michigan Faithful something to get excited about! GO BLUE!

I love this Michigan basketball team.. and so glad we will have them together for a while! The future is bright and I could not be more proud of what these guys did this year! Cannot wait for next season- lets try for a conference championship! These young players gained a lot of experience and really found themselves the last month and a half or so. Proud of you guys- GO BLUE!

* 13-3 run to finish the game, no FG's for Duke in the last 4 or 5 minutes

* You hit some truly cold-blooded shots in the last few minutes of the game

* You came much closer to knocking Duke out of the tourney than that other Michigan team that was led by underclassmen

* Today you killed for good any idea that your torrid finish to this season might have been a fluke

* All of the above, plus the fact that you will all be back next year

They say there are no moral victories. But perhaps today was a morale victory for Michigan basketball. It is sooo nice to be back on the map again. Thank you, men. Very much looking forward to next year.

Harmon40 "When the 'ol season is over, you and I know: it'll be Michigan again...MICHIGAN!"

needed. the denouncement that is. I'm by no means satisfied with these young upstarts. but expectations will be through the roof if this team gets another big man that just takes fowls and blo.. alter shoots and take up space.

Extremely proud of our boys. Never gave up, showed true grit, and fought till the last second. I can't wait for next season; buckle up because Michigan's bball program is about to take off and reach heights we haven't seen since the early 90s.

Phineas: Removing prepositions makes it more condescending.

With how well this team has played down the stretch and the coaching, I cant imagine we'll keep missing these close games. Morris' passing is ridiculous - I look forward to more thrilla dishes as they get to know each other even better

The in-game and practice coaching is impressive. Late this year there were very few times that I've been frustrated by what the team was doing to itself in the game, and this passes my eye test for playas knowing what to do and where to be.

Go blue. This is my senior year. I have been to ever basketball game for the last four years. This year’s team was amazing. Thank you guys for giving Michigan sports something to be PROUD off. They’ve played their asses off, hats of to this team. I could not be happier with the way this season ended. GO BLUE, and good luck in future seasons!!!

You can't help but cheer for these guys. They exceed expectations and there's no quit in them. I'm happy we're bringing this team back but more importantly I'm happy we're bringing people of this caliber and class back to the U of M for another great year of bball.